Police recover Jaguar after pursuit from Contra Costa to Vallejo

A high-speed chase that began in Contra Costa County early Wednesday, ended with the driver of a Jaguar registered in Fairfield dumping it in Vallejo and fleeing on foot, California Highway Patrol spokesmen said.

"Originally, we tried to stop the vehicle for speeding, but the driver failed to yield, and took off at speeds up to 120 to 125 miles per hour," Contra Costa County CHP spokesman Sgt. Steve Barruel said.

That was about 4 a.m. near Bailey Road on State Route 4, he said.

"The driver continued to northbound 680, then to westbound 780 then westbound 80 to Magazine Street," Barruel said. "Officers gave chase through a few surface streets, and all this time, (the driver) blacked out -- turned off his headlights."

The driver turned right onto Sonoma Boulevard and accelerated, at which point officers decided to disengage for safety reasons, he said.

Solano County CHP spokesman Sgt. Phil Grant said his officers responded when the chase crossed into their territory.

"We lost sight of it in downtown Vallejo, but the car was later recovered," Grant said.

Barruel said he was among those who located the Jaguar, parked inconspicuously in front of a house on York Street. Though not reported stolen, the 1997 dark blue or black Jaguar was taken as evidence, he said.

"We're pretty sure we know who (the driver) is and are investigating," Barruel said. "We have some leads. The car came back out of Fairfield, which is how we were able to find out who had the vehicle last."

That person, the Jag's registered owner, is now "a person of interest" in the case, he said.

"According to witnesses, there were two people -- a male and a female -- in the car," he said.

It is not unusual for the owner of a car involved in police pursuits to dump it and make a run for it, both officers said.

"It's quite common to abandon the car if they're familiar with the area; disassociate from the car and get some distance," Barruel said.

"In the last two or three pursuits I've been involved in, the car was not reported stolen," Grant said. "The people inside were wanted for some reason."

Barruel said the officers did the right thing calling off the chase.

"I'm glad it ended well. The officers used sound judgment," he said. "We don't know why this person refused to stop, but obviously he was trying to conceal something from the officers and that's what we're following up on."

Contact staff writer Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824 or rzrihen@timesheraldonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at Rachelvth.